Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint session of the US Congress on Wednesday, amid widespread protests in Washington. Thousands of demonstrators gathered in the US capital, calling on the US to end arms sales to Israel and to implement an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. As Netanyahu entered the chamber to address Congress, he was welcomed with a standing ovation from US lawmakers. Netanyahu thanked the US for its support for Israel and laid out his vision for a post-war Gaza, amid growing pressure on his government to wind down and end the war. The Israeli leader said his country did not seek to resettle the territory, but that a future Gaza would have to be 'demilitarised' and 'de-radicalised'
Source:The Guardian
July 25, 2024 09:09 UTC
LONDON: Climate change is causing temperature extremes in the UK, including more frequent hot periods and an increase in rainfall , the country's Met Office said Thursday.In its annual State of the Climate report, the weather service said 2023 was the second-hottest year on record.The number of " hot days " when temperatures surpassed 28 degrees Celsius (82 Fahrenheit) had increased "nearly everywhere" across the UK, it said.Between 1961 and 1990, London and Hampshire in southeast England recorded six or more hot days on average every year.But inthe last decade from 2014-2023 many parts of the southeast had 12 days that reached the "hot day" threshold.The report also found that the number of very hot days of more than 30C had tripled when comparing the two periods.Analysis also "clearly shows an increase in the number of very wet days" in the most recent decade, at around 20 percent more than in 1961-1990.Lead author and Met Office climate scientist Mike Kendon said the new analysis "really shines a light on the fastest changing aspects of our weather as a consequence of climate change".Last year was "another year of interesting and at times significant weather", he added.The Met Office also conducted studies to determine the extent to which climate change was behind various extreme weather events in 2023, including record-breaking monthly temperatures in July.They all found that human-induced climate change had made the extreme conditions "much more likely to happen than they would have been in a natural climate", without the effects of man-made emissions. "The new analysis of days that are classified as 'hot' or having 'exceptional rainfall' highlights the increased frequency in high impact extremes we are already experiencing in the UK," said Liz Bentley, chief executive of the Royal Meteorological Society. "The attribution studies help to understand how human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, are making these extreme events much more likely to happen as our climate continues to change," she said.A section of the report conducted by the National Oceanographic Centre also showed that sea levels had continued to rise.Data taken from Newlyn near Penzance on England's southwestern tip showed 2023 as the highest year on record for annual mean sea level.Bentley said the report was "the authoritative annual summary of the UK climate". "It not only helps to highlight the latest knowledge on our changing climate but also enables us to understand the trends, risks and impacts to help inform how we will need to adapt, now and in the future," she said.
Source:The Times
July 25, 2024 08:53 UTC
The disgraced doctor who founded the controversial trans clinic GenderGP is no longer legally permitted to practice medicine in the UK. The General Medical Council (GMC) has confirmed that Helen Webberley failed to revalidate her licence within its required five-year time frame. The revalidation process calls for doctors to demonstrate that they are “up to date and fit to practise”. UndeterredResponding to the GMC’s decision, Webberley said she had “fought incredibly hard” to keep her licence, but vowed to continue her work. Earlier this year, GenderGP – which is now based in Singapore – was accused of issuing a “dangerously high” dose of cross-sex hormones to a 15-year-old girl with autism.
Source:The Times
July 25, 2024 08:48 UTC
As such, the Sovereign Grant is increasing too. The sovereign grant will be reviewed in 2026-27 to reassess the amount handed over to the palace and ensure it is an “appropriate level”. They’re telling the government to keep the Sovereign Grant percentage where it is for the time being because they’re still paying for the hugely expensive refurbishment/reno of Buckingham Palace, a decade-long undertaking. Royal travel costs soared by hundreds of thousands of pounds last year despite fewer engagements due to the illness of the King and Princess of Wales, figures show. The Sovereign Grant report revealed travel expenditure went up by £300,000 at a bill of £4.2m despite there being around 400 fewer visits and less foreign travel than the year before.
Source:The Guardian
July 25, 2024 07:57 UTC
Catherine Smith on Cold Bath Road in Harrogate. A vintage clothes shop in Harrogate has been named among the best in the UK. The Times has compiled a list of seven of Britain’s best vintage shops and has praised Harrogate’s Catherine Smith as a “polished treasure trove.”The publisher praised the shop on Cold Bath Road for its accessories from brands such as Ferragamo, Hermès and Chanel. “Britain’s best vintage shops are history in textile form, whether you want to pick up a Fifties swing dress or a Nineties-inspired bucket hat (very much back on trend for summer). “Typically run by passionate shopkeepers, these treasure troves are best visited at weekends when you have more time to browse.”Check out its full list of Britain’s best vintage shops here.
Source:The Times
July 25, 2024 06:23 UTC
Trump was “implacably opposed” to legislation raising the federal minimum wage to $7.25, which was last increased 15 years ago to the day, Gould noted. “Everything we know about the vice president and her involvement in the Biden administration indicates that she would give workers a chance to move forward,” Gould said. In statements endorsing Harris, leaders at various unions praised her record in elected office. “The United Farm Workers could not be prouder to endorse her for President of the United States. Together, we continue the work of building an America that works for all of its working people.”
Source:The Guardian
July 25, 2024 06:19 UTC
In a speech marking both the conclusion of his re-election campaign and the beginning of the end of his more than five decades in politics, Joe Biden warned America that the fight for democracy was far from finished. 'Now, in just a few months, the American people choose the course of America’s future,' the US president said
Source:The Guardian
July 25, 2024 04:44 UTC
Video of Studying in the UK: An international student's experienceArya Sreeja, a student at London South Bank University, explains that international rankings and future career prospects attracted her to the UKThe international student experience is about more than just academic achievements. From enrolment to studying their chosen course and securing future job opportunities, students from abroad have many factors to consider when picking an institution. “London South Bank University was ranked 601st in the world by Times Higher Education,” she says. “The university is also well regarded for its professionalism, good graduate job opportunities and facilities. There were a multitude of factors that attracted me to the university.”Since arriving in the UK, Sreeja has discovered that much of her optimism surrounding life and study in the country was well-founded.
Source:The Times
July 25, 2024 04:37 UTC
Video has emerged of one of Team GB’s biggest stars, Charlotte Dujardin, whipping a horse more than 20 times in one minute when she was conducting a coaching session to a young rider in a private stable four years ago. The 39-year-old, who won six dressage Olympic medals in London, Rio and Tokyo, has been banned from the Paris Olympics over allegations that she whipped a horse.
Source:The Guardian
July 25, 2024 04:14 UTC
Derby County have made Crystal Palace midfielder David Ozoh their ninth signing of the summer as Paul Warne prepares for life back in the Championship. Liam Delap returned to parent club Man City to join Ipswich too while winger Jason Lokilo is on his way to CSKA Sofia. Bristol City have brought in Sinclair Armstrong from QPR ahead of the expected exit of Tommy Conway, who is training with their under-21s. Chris Wilder has made four signings at Sheffield United and is closing in on Harrison Burrows from Peterborough United too. There is not an abundance of proven Championship players [on our list] because there are big sharks circling in that tank.
Source:Express
July 25, 2024 02:51 UTC
Claim: Former U.S. President Barack Obama and actor Brad Pitt are ninth cousins. Rating: About this rating TrueSocial media users rediscovered and circulated a claim in 2023 that former U.S. President Barack Obama and A-list actor Brad Pitt are ninth cousins. An Instagram user posted the tidbit in April 2023, stating: "In 2012, genealogists found out that former President Barack Obama and actor Brad Pitt are ninth cousins, related through Edwin Hickman, who died in Virginia in 1769." (fact6t9/Instagram)The claim gained traction on X on Dec. 25, 2023, when the statement, "Brad Pitt is related to Barack Obama. Obama's father, Barack Obama Sr., was born and raised in a small village in Kenya.
Source:The Guardian
July 25, 2024 02:50 UTC
Pro-Palestine protesters blocked the entrance to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London on Wednesday, calling on the new Labour government to change its Gaza policy. The demonstrators surrounded the entrance to the building during a protest organised by the Workers for a Free Palestine activist group. The activists called on Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories and on the UK to halt arms sales, holding a banner that read: 'Genocide made in Britain.' Protesters said six demonstrators were arrested
Source:The Guardian
July 25, 2024 02:04 UTC
Fats are central to cooking, from cordon bleu to the hasty sandwich, and there's nothing that quite matches animal-derived fats in the kitchen. Unfortunately, animal-derived fats have a substantial carbon footprint and other ethical problems, while plant-derived fats, such as palm oil, are not without their own well-known issues. Savor, a California-based startup, have developed a thermochemical process to produce fats from carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and oxygen that are identical to animal-derived fats. Recently, they have developed a pre-commercial butter that is a close match for traditional, animal-derived butter while being more sustainable. The process doesn't release any greenhouse gases, and it uses no farmland and less than a thousandth of the water that traditional agriculture does.
Source:The Guardian
July 25, 2024 01:45 UTC
The species is a summer visitor to the UK, arriving in May from wintering grounds 6,500 km away in subtropical Africa. Data gathered from BTO's BirdTrack app clearly show a reduction in nightjars reported on UK breeding grounds following severe weather events on the Continent during this year's migration period. The continuing wetter and cooler summer weather this year is likely to have impacted negatively on their breeding success once again. Cause for optimismWhile the UK breeding population of European Nightjar breeding population still has a long way to go to match its pre-decline levels, there is cause for optimism. However, there are concerns that the accompanying changes in weather could impact on migration patterns and breeding success.
Source:The Guardian
July 25, 2024 01:34 UTC
In an Oval Office speech this evening, President Biden will address his decision to abandon his race for a second term and his plans to “finish the job for the American people” during his final months in office. “I have decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation,” Biden is expected to say, per speech excerpts released by the White House. “That is the best way to unite our nation.”Biden is also expected to highlight some of his priorities in the final six months of his term, including lowering costs, defending voting rights and protecting access to abortion. The remarks will be Biden’s first to the public since bowing to pressure from the Democratic Party and withdrawing from the presidential campaign on Sunday.
Source:The Guardian
July 25, 2024 00:49 UTC